Mark Edward Stunkel

Mark Edward Stunkel, 68, of Natick, passed away on Sunday, June 23, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer to try to stay as long as he could with his family and friends. His wife, Karen and their two children, Anna and Brian and his sister, LeaAnne were with him, holding his hands, talking to him as he touched his guitar and playing the Grateful Dead and a song he had written for Anna. Mark never wanted Anna and Brian to experience such heartache, but he would have been proud of them that day, as he was always, as they stayed by his side. Their love and dedication to him is a tribute to what a wonderful (understatement), dedicated, loving, supportive father he was. LeaAnne being with him/us attests to the strong bond they had. Mark was in the hospital for a week with Karen, Anna, Brian, LeaAnne, his nephew, Billy and his father, Jack, who would have given his life to Mark if he could, by his side. Mark's dedicated mother, Margaret would have come if she could, but she is struggling with health issues. Katie, Brian’s girlfriend, was a support to all of us, especially Brian. Mark’s longtime friend and guitar student of over 30 years, Steve Forcucci came to play the guitar with him in the hospital as he had when Mark had his back surgery, which was a valued gift and made Mark so happy.

Mark was born on October 12, 1955, in Ridgecrest, CA. He was the son of Jack and Margaret (Power) Stunkel of Plymouth. Mark is survived by Karen (Fimbel) Stunkel, of Natick. He was a dedicated and loving father to Anna Stunkel, of Marcellus, NY and Brian Stunkel, of Cambridge, MA. He was a cherished brother of Judi Novak and her husband, Mark, of Purcellville, VA and LeaAnne Doyle, of Plymouth.   He was like a brother to his brother-in-law, Rick Thomas of Pottstown, PA. Mark is also survived by several nieces and nephews who he took great pride in playing with and teasing throughout their childhood into adulthood.

Mark was raised in California, Colorado and New York. He especially loved Colorado, where he learned to be an avid skier at an early age and discovered the joy of being in nature. His parents taught him to love the outdoors and took the family on many trips. When his family moved to New York, he met Karen when he was 17 and she was 15. They knew each other for 52 years and on June 3, 2024, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. When they met, Karen told a friend it would never work because Mark was quiet and she was so talkative, but she was so very wrong.

Mark was a self-taught (talented beyond words) guitarist/teacher. He attended the University of Vermont majoring in Environmental Science, but decided, with the support of his parents, to pursue a career in music. He transferred to and graduated from Berklee College of Music. He spent his life teaching guitar to children and adults of all ages. He truly loved his career, which he didn't think of as a job. Mark's guitar students, bandmates, and musician friends are as devastated by the loss of him as his family, as they were his musical family. As one student shared, “I have a hole in my heart.” The outpouring of sadness from them has been touching, but no surprise. Mark was a humble man who we don't feel knew how much of a significant impact he had on so many lives. He was a man of few words with a fantastic sense of humor. He taught at the Winchester Music School, the Walnut Hill School, Milton Academy, Wood & Strings, Strike Up The Band in Natick, and out of his home. He also played in many bands over the years.

Mark was healthy throughout his life until 2 years ago when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He had two surgeries, radiation, numerous scans and chemotherapy. He always ate healthy and exercised regularly so a cancer diagnosis was a surprise to us all. He loved birdwatching, bike riding, hiking, skiing, disc golf, animals, and being in nature. He cherished all of the golden retriever family members we had over the years including Schmedley, Sam, Lucky, and the family’s current special boy, Eddie. Eddie has always provided unconditional love and affection and has beautiful soulful eyes, but during Mark's treatments it was especially appreciated. He continues to provide the love and support that Karen, Anna, and Brian need. We would like to thank our reliable neighbor and friend, Glen Glater, immensely for always providing Eddie with quality care during all of our many trips into Boston. If it wasn't for Glen, Eddie would have been unhappy and stressed which would have caused us additional stress. 

Mark and Karen had a unique, special relationship that is difficult to put into words. They moved to Natick in 1989 after living in Brookline and Watertown. They loved raising Anna and Brian in a neighborhood with such great neighbors and friends. They went on numerous fantastic vacations together. Karen told Mark that if she knew there was a cancer diagnosis in their future, she would do it all over again. There are very few men that are as loving, accepting, sensitive and kind as Mark was. He got those traits from his father, Jack, and those traits continue to live on in Brian. On Karen's 50th birthday, Mark wrote, "Song for Karen" as a surprise. Not too many wives have a husband who writes them a song to share their love. Mark ALWAYS said thank you to Karen for just making him dinner, taking care of Anna and Brian, going to be with his parents during the pandemic and every time they drove home from treatments. He felt bad that he was impacting his family's life and often felt he was holding them back. Karen, Anna, and Brian would do anything to still have him with them, but it was hard seeing him in such discomfort, which he didn't complain about, after previously having such an active life.

We would like to thank all of his guitar students, bandmates, and musician friends for making him so happy. A mother of one student said that her child's guitar lessons were 70% music and 30% therapy. Mark just adored his students and had a unique sense of humor. He taught throughout his treatments, only taking a break when he had surgeries. He would have chemotherapy in the morning and teach that afternoon. We would also like to thank all of the staff at Dana Farber and Brigham & Women's Hospital (where Anna and Brian were born) for always being so kind, caring, and knowledgeable. Mark said, "If you are going to get cancer, Boston is the place to be." It was also good for Karen's mental health to hear Mark laughing with his guitar students, especially when he wasn't feeling good. There was always music coming out of his teaching room and the current silence is deafening. Not many people have music being played all the time in their home. Even when Mark played scales it sounded good! While Mark was watching Seinfeld or Bugs Bunny with the kids, he would have his guitar in his hands. Mark was very proud that he kept walking throughout his treatments, however, he missed being able to go on long hikes, long bird walks, and biking. Before his diagnosis, he used to sometimes ride his bike downtown to teach with his guitar on his back. 

Mark was most proud of being a father to Anna and Brian and he was the BEST. He was so proud of Anna's love of nature. They loved discussing bands and birdwatching together. There are many photos of them looking at birds through their binoculars. When you see a kingfisher, Mark's favorite bird, think of him. He was especially proud of Anna's artwork and had sketches by Anna hanging behind him while he taught. Karen often heard him through the teaching room door proudly sharing Anna's artistic accomplishments and her naturalist skills. He wrote the song, “The Birdwatcher” for her.  Anna has said that her love of teaching children and adults about nature was inspired by Mark's love of nature and teaching. When Brian arrived, Karen was concerned that he might not like to be outside. Mark said, “Any kid of ours has to love the outdoors,” and he was right. Mark never pushed interests on Anna or Brian, he just supported them and tried to guide them. However, if they said they liked music with just one chord in it, he would discourage them from liking it! Mark was also immensely proud of Brian. He loved playing disc golf and bike riding with him and sharing their love of skiing. He introduced Brian to the movie, “Alien” which is Brian’s favorite movie. He bought Brian the biggest telescope he could to explore the planets with him, suggesting that Brian would grow into it. Brian said sometimes Mark thought of it as “his” telescope, which they often joked about. Karen would hear Mark proudly sharing with students that Brian was an engineer who worked for the MBTA. Mark was so proud that Brian played the clarinet as Mark did growing up. Mark and Brian played a duet for Brian's senior recital, which not many fathers can do. He also was teaching Brian to play the bass and they enjoyed playing together. Mark wrote a song for Brian called “Three-wheeled Blues," since Brian liked three-wheeled cars when he was younger. During the pandemic, when Brian was in his senior year at the University of Vermont and had to come home, he said that he was lucky because lots of his friends didn't have family they wanted to be with. Brian said it was one of the best times of his life! Brian has a love of photography and took the attached photo of Mark with our lovely Eddie. 

In the hospital, Mark told Anna, Brian, and Karen that if he wrote everything fun that they all did together that it would take 1,000 pages. He said sweet things even as he was struggling. The last thing that Mark wrote to Karen, Anna, Brian, and Eddie was that he loved them all so much and, “I had the best life ever in history. I would do it over and over a million times if I could.” He added a sketch of Eddie wagging his tail (he was a gifted cartoon artist), a sketch of Mort Creelops (a cartoon character that he created in high school) and wrote his name in block letters which has special meaning to Karen, Anna, and Brian. Whenever any of them went away, even sometimes just for the day, he would leave them notes with funny sketches. 

A Celebration of Life is being held on September 15, 2024, from 2-5 at Elm Bank Reservation, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley.  At 3:00, some words will be said in honor of Mark’s life and some musicians will play some special pieces.  There will be light refreshments at the gathering so it would be appreciated if you could email lakotastun@gmail.com if you plan to attend.  Although Mark loved children, we are requesting that no children under the age of 10 attend.  Thank you for your understanding.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mark's memory to the Community Music Center of Boston at cmcb.org.

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